Iraq preps for possible U.S. airstrikes

From Jamie McIntyre
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Iraq has dispersed missiles, radars and aircraft over the past week in apparent anticipation of U.S. airstrikes against its air defenses, Pentagon sources said Tuesday.

The moves include shifting some radars near Baghdad above the 33rd parallel, outside the no-fly zone where U.S. planes bomb with some frequency.

The Iraqi defensive moves come as Pentagon sources said the United States is drawing up plans for a military response to Iraq's stepped-up campaign to shoot down a coalition plane involved in the enforcement of no-fly zones in the north and south.

"We reserve the right to strike targets at a time and a place in a manner of our choosing," said Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. Craig Quigley.

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Pentagon officials would not confirm any details of the planning, including the scale or timing of the possible attack.

"There is still work to be done," said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicating an attack was not imminent.

The last time the United States attacked above the 33rd parallel was on February 16, 2001, when more than 60 U.S. and British planes, including two-dozen strike aircraft, attacked five targets that included more than 20 radars.

The Pentagon on Tuesday repeated its charge that Iraq has been "considerably more aggressive" in its efforts to shoot down a U.S. or British plane this year, compared to the same time last year.

Quigley blamed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein saying, "He is trying his darndest to bring down a coalition aircraft."

"The volume of fire is up throughout both northern and southern watch as compared to, say, a year ago at this time. It is very clear that he is very focused and determined to try to bring down a coalition aircraft," Quigley said.

Quigley said that in the southern no-fly zone there have been 370 "provocations" by Iraqi gunners so far this year, compared to only 211 in 2000.

The Pentagon defines a "provocation" as an incident in which Iraqi air defenses fires artillery or missiles at coalition planes, or targets them with hostile radar.

In the northern no-fly zone there have been 62 "provocations" so far this year, compared to 145 in 2000.

There have been no U.S. bombing raids on Iraq since July 17, when U.S. planes hit an anti-aircraft site in southern Iraq.

President Bush is scheduled to come to the Pentagon for a briefing Wednesday, but the subject is nuclear force levels, not Iraq, according to senior Pentagon officials.